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Space

Commercial Astronaut Training

Although Brien Posey is best known for his Information Technology related accomplishments, he is also currently training as a Commercial Scientist-Astronaut Candidate. To date, Brien has completed extensive suborbital space flight training through the Association of Spaceflight Professionals (formerly Astronauts for Hire) and Project PoSSUM (the first private, manned suborbital research program). In addition, Brien leads the Association of Spaceflight Professionals' Technology and Engineering group, which has been tasked with developing new technologies that may eventually fly in space.

Latest News

March 2018: Brien is scheduled to participate in Advanced Spacecraft Egress Training, a course in which Brien will be wearing a spacesuit and practicing post landing procedures on the Orion capsule.

March 2018: Brien is currently studying Spaceflight Physiology, Celestial Navigation for Space Missions, and the Suborbital Space and Atmospheric Environment through Project PoSSUM. Brien is also currently enrolled in Space Mission Design and Operations through (EFPLx) Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne).

January 2018: Brien earned an X-Series certificate in astrophysics from Australian National University (ANUx).

November 2017: Brien participated in a parabolic flight campaign in conjunction with NASA, Final Frontier Design, and Zero Gravity Corporation.

October 2017: Brien has completed spacecraft simulator pilot training at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

October 2017: Brien became one of the first three people to ever wear a pressurized commercial spacesuit in zero gravity, as a part of Project PoSSUM's "visor down" microgravity spacesuit evaluation. During the flight, Brien took the opportunity to let his book, Conversational Rocket Science float in zero gravity.

September 2017: Brien has graduated from the first ever Project Otter course (EVA 101 Space Medicine and Human Performance)

Spacesuit and Simulator Technician Qualification Program

Trained in the safe donning, doffing, and operational procedures for a Final Frontier Design, Intra-vehicular Activity (IVA) spacesuit

Microgravity Spacesuit Evaluation

Ottawa Canada, October 2017

BIO-103 was the third series of microgravity flight testing for the Final Frontier Design IVA spacesuit. Referred to internally as the "visor down test", this was the first parabolic flight campaign in which the spacesuit's visor was closed and the suit was pressurized. Test objectives included:

Test the ability of the suited subject to operate the PoSSUM science instruments in microgravity

Test the subject's ability to operate flight controls

Test the suited subject's ability to accurately pressurize and depressurize the spacesuit to a predetermined pressure.

Test the subject's ability to open and close the visor

Test the suited subject's ability to release and refasten the five point harness while weightless

My role in this flight campaign was that of suited subject, and I was therefore responsible for performing the various tests while wearing a spacesuit.

Space Medicine and Human Performance

Project PoSSUM / Project OTTER, September 2017

Space Medicine and Human Performance (EVA-101) focused primarily on post landing contingencies following an off-nominal spacecraft landing in a remote area. In addition to learning about spaceflight physiology and space medicine, the team learned how to triage and treat injuries stemming from an off-nominal landing.

Brien Posey is a member of the inaugural Project OTTER class (EVA-101). Project OTTER is a cooperative effort between Project PoSSUM and Final Frontier Design, with the goal of developing and testing EVA spacesuits. The program will culminate in a series of underwater EVA research missions. The Project OTTER requirements include:

Egress and Post-Landing Operations in the Age of Commercial Manned Spaceflight

Emergency Post-Landing Survival Kits, Medical Resources

Fundamental Egress and Post-Landing Survivability Skills:

Safety and survival equipment utilization and deployment

Coping with physiological and psychological stress

Introduction of rescue devices and simulated rescues

Preparation for emergency landing situations in a spacecraft

Evacuation through an emergency exit from a spacecraft

Physics and physiology for use of compressed air

Preflight inspection, egress considerations, and clearing procedures using an EBD

Conducting an emergency egress on breath hold utilizing the Shallow Water Egress Trainer

Conducting an emergency egress with an EBD utilizing the Shallow Water Egress Trainer

Evacuation and escape training utilizing the Modular Egress Training Simulator (METS) with and without utilizing an EBD

Sea Survival Skills:

Safety and survival equipment utilization and deployment

Introduction to hypothermia mitigation and sea survival

Personal rescue techniques and use of life rafts and signaling devices

Characteristics of personal flotation devices and aviation jackets

Life raft deployment/entry and simulated emergency scenarios

Introduction to individual and group sea surface formations

Introduction to search and rescue resources and equipment

Microgravity Flight Test Director

Project PoSSUM Microgravity Spacesuit Evaluation Program
Canadian National Research Council, 2016

Microgravity Subject Assistant

Project PoSSUM Microgravity Spacesuit Evaluation Program
Canadian National Research Council, 2016

PoSSUM Bioastronautics BIO-101

A microgravity flight campaign to evaluate commercial spacesuits in a microgravity environment in conjunction with a prototype spacecraft seat, and various biomedical monitoring systems. The study focused primarily on human factors, the suit / seat interface, the umbilical interface, the suited subject's ability to operate spacecraft controls, and ingress / egress procedures.

Advanced Chamber Program / Scenario Based Physiological Training Program

Advanced Chamber Program / Scenario Based Physiological Training Program
Southern Aeromedical Institute
Scenario based training for Slow Onset Hypoxia in which the pilot is required to operate a flight simulator, and maintain communications with ATC, while flying at altitude in a hypobaric chamber.